Blow the whistle on rhino poachers

ENVIRONMENTAL Affairs minister, Dr Edna Molewa, has called on all South Africans to join hands with government to put an end to rhino poaching by reporting suspected poaching activities.

“By blowing the whistle on all forms of wildlife crime, you are not only contributing towards saving a species for future generations to enjoy and benefit from, you are also contributing to a safer society,” Molewa said.

She released a statement on the occasion of World Rhino Day last Friday and made a call to conserve one of the world’s most iconic species, the rhino.

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“While it is important to acknowledge the efforts of government departments and agencies in implementing the Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros approach; at the same time we must recognise the efforts of our communities, the NGO community, business, and all ordinary South Africans who are doing their part,” she said. 

“As home to the largest population of rhino in the world, South Africa continues to have a proud record for species conservation, despite the grim impact of the illicit transnational wildlife trade on our rhino, we continue to register successes in bringing poaching numbers down,” said Minister Molewa.

According to the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa brought the rhino back from the brink of extinction in the 1960s and today has an estimated 20 000 black and white rhino.

Read also – Three rhino poachers nabbed in Hluhluwe

The department has credited this achievement to the collaborative conservation efforts of government departments, agencies, private rhino owners, NGOs and the efforts of communities living adjacent to national parks.

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